Barcelona (AFP)

FC Barcelona hopes to be able to organize the elections for the presidency of the club "towards the next end of year celebrations", announced Carles Tusquets, president of the transitional management commission of the Catalan club, this Monday evening at a press conference.

"We will convene them around the next Christmas and New Year holidays, that's our idea," Tusquets said at a press conference.

Tusquets, chairman of the transitional management commission which has been leading Barça since the resignation of ex-president Josep Maria Bartomeu last Tuesday, however specified that "it will be necessary to be able to vote with all health guarantees".

The acting president added that the club's intention is to hold these elections within a maximum period of three months, as required by the statutes of the blaugrana club.

The economic situation of the club "is not dramatic, but highly worrying," he also repeated Tusquets.

"We want to keep cutting expenses in the short term and the most important measure is the salary renegotiation. We hope to reach an agreement with the players and non-sporting staff at the club," Tusquets said.

"We do not want to take money from anyone, we want to settle what must be settled at a time when it will be easier to pay," said the chairman of the transitional management committee.

Barça has proposed several measures to its employees, said Tusquets without elaborating on these said measures.

Those interested were listening, including Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi, he added.

"There is a very good predisposition from Leo Messi and his representatives," Tusquets said.

"We estimate that to balance the budget, we will have to make an effort of some EUR 300m", he calculated, admitting that Barça had today "surely the highest wage bill in Europe" .

With sources of income almost at a standstill, Barça "is in a very complex situation and we must act in two areas: lower expenses and seek income that does not exist".

Tusquets has categorically denied that the club are at risk of facing creditors and are considering the possibility of recruiting in January.

"If there are sales, there can be purchases. There will be the possibility of recruiting players with the pay cut, this is the current situation," he concluded.

© 2020 AFP